Choosing What To Keep/Sell Before Long-Term Travel

So you’ve got the travel bug. Or wanderlust. Or whatever the kids are calling it these days. Your suitcase is packed and you’re about to take off on your long-term trip.

But what is your stuff going to do while you’re busy globetrotting? Just sit around your house collecting dust and potentially tempting thieves? Spend hours learning the choreography to Be Our Guest?

If you don’t know what you should do with your things while you travel, these questions can help you determine whether you should sell it or keep it.

Do you really need it?

If you don’t use it, don’t keep it sitting around your home, cluttering your cupboards and hogging all your space. This is the perfect opportunity to sell the items you don’t use or need, so you don’t have to worry about them while you’re away.

This will leave you with a more organised home and some extra pocket money to spend throughout your travels.

Does it need an upgrade?

Has your fridge seen better days? Is your sofa ready to be replaced? Don’t hold on to items that need upgrading – you could earn a decent amount of cash for them, allowing you to afford that massage in Bali (or wherever).

Long-term travelling is a great motivator for culling the stuff that needs an upgrade and finally getting around to replacing it.

Will it keep in good condition during your time away?

While some items may be fine sitting in a cupboard for a few months, other needs a little more care. For example, you wouldn’t want to abandon your mattress for too long. Or your cats.

Your mattress should get rotated every few months to keep its shape, so if your trip runs longer than this, it may be time to say your goodbyes.

Your car is another attention-seeking belonging. You can’t just leave it sitting at home without having it started and warmed up occasionally. Get a family member or friend to take care of it while you’re gone or you could be hit with some costly repairs upon returning home. If you’ve got your eye on a new dream car and have been looking for any excuse to get rid of your current rust bucket vehicle, this is it.

Is there sentimental value?

Some precious possessions you can’t quite say goodbye to, and items with sentimental value shouldn’t necessarily be given up just because you’re heading off to see the world. If the hideous doll collection passed down from your Great Grandmother is special to you, don’t let it go.

Keep your stuff safe while you’re away with a self-storage unit. Check out our expert tips for storing furniture to keep everything in top condition for when you return.

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